Is the 2017 Jeep Wrangler a bad year?
312 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Wrangler years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2017 Jeep Wrangler are in line with other Wrangler years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
6th quietest of 20 Wrangler years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Wrangler owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 31,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 78 (25%) | 19k–43k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 50 (16%) | 9k–36k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 45 (14%) | 14k–55k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 26 (8%) | 13k–71k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (5%) | 8k–32k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 14 (4%) | 19k–43k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (3%) | 5k–35k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 63 (20%) | 32k–71k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 19 (6%) | 2k–18k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 19 (6%) | 1k–13k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 8 (3%) | 4k–15k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 7 (2%) | 5k–22k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 6 (2%) | 4k–10k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 31,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 312 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 21 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 22 say the car was towed.
27 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
After 2 years, there is an oil leak around the oil pump which poses a fire hazard.
Noticed oil leak smell, took to mechanic and diagnosis shows the oil housing unit, plastic cover on the cooler is cracked and leaking.
Oil spillage on driveway. Started after cold weather moved into area. Now costing 1500.00 to fix problems.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 31,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Jeep Wrangler: 5
The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame. A separated or severed seat belt buckle strap will result in an inoperable seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The brake switches on these vehicles may malfunction, keeping the brake lights illuminated and/or allowing the vehicle to be shifted out of the PARK position without the brake pedal being pushed. Having the brake lamps continuously illuminated or being able to shift the vehicle out of PARK when the brake pedal is not pressed (and the ignition is in the RUN mode) can increase the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles may have a fuel tank that has a cracked or broken control valve, possibly resulting in a fuel leak in a rollover event, debris in the fuel tank and/or the potential of over fueling the vehicle. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
In certain crash conditions, the front impact sensor wiring may be pulled until it detaches before a signal can be received by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). If the ORC module does not receive a signal from the front impact sensor, both frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 89
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Jeep Wrangler. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Suspected Engine Coolant Leak
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Seat belt buckle bracket failure
Electrical overstress
Neighbouring years
2016 Wrangler: 464 complaints, keep it · 2018 Wrangler: 1,828 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Wrangler year
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Questions
Is the 2017 Jeep Wrangler a bad year?
312 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Wrangler years. At 31,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Jeep Wrangler?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (78), transmission and drivetrain (50), electrical system (45), air bags (26), fuel system (15).
How many recalls does the 2017 Jeep Wrangler have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 19V-680), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-524), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 18V-098), Fuel system (NHTSA 16V-849) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.